Vanuatu – negotiations
The Vanuatu government is
preparing for the first round of formal negotiations with
France on sovereignty over Umaenupne and Umaeneg, otherwise
known as Matthew and Hunter Islands.
Permanent
maritime boundaries between Vanuatu and New Caledonia are
also set to be raised.
Local media reported Vanuatu
Prime Minister Jotham Napat has appointed the Deputy PM
Johnny Koanapo Rasou as lead negotiator.
A delegation
from France, led by Special Envoy Director Benoît Guidée
arrived in Port Vila on Wednesday for two days of
talks.
This first round of
negotiations follows a working visit to Paris by Prime
Minister Napat in July to meet with French President
Emmanuel Macron.
The government has appointed DLA
Piper to represent Vanuatu’s legal interests as it pursues
sovereignty over the islands and its permanent maritime
boundaries.
As part of the visit, the Government will
host a formal dinner to welcome the French
delegation.
Tuvalu – treaty
Tuvalu has signed
a new treaty with Taiwan, elevating their bilateral
ties.
Local media reported the Kaitasi Treaty makes it
more difficult for both parties to unilaterally exit the
relationship.
On his first state visit to Taiwan,
Tuvalu Prime Minister Feleti Teo said it’s a significant
historical moment.
He said it sets a relationship of
cooperation between Tuvalu and Taiwan for the first time,
with a legal platform giving rise to legal commitments
instead of mere political commitments.
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Tuvalu and
Taiwan also signed two other agreements in an effort to
enhance sport and fisheries.
Northern Mariana Islands
– mining
Discussions over potential seabed mining in
the Northern Marianas are intensifying.
The
Commonwealth’s governor is urging residents to weigh in as
the United States advances early steps toward possible
deep-ocean mineral exploration in the region.
The
Bureau of Ocean Energy Management has released a ‘request
for information and interest’ on mineral leasing across the
CNMI’s Outer Continental Shelf – which is seen as the
starting point for any future commercial
activity.
Marianas governor David Apatang is calling
on the community to respond, saying broad participation is
critical as Washington considers how to handle the
issue.
Solomon Islands – embassy
Solomon
Islands is re-opening its embassy in Geneva.
The
mission closed in 2014, reportedly due to a lack of funds to
maintain its operation.
Foreign Minister Peter Shanel
Agovaka has now signed an agreement with Switzerland to
begin work on the mission, as the Solomon Islands seeks
greater engagement with the UN and the World Trade
Organisation.
It would make them the only Pacific
Island nation with a diplomatic mission in
Switzerland.
Agovaka said the process of
re-establishing it’s mission will begin early next
year.
Solomon Islands – ecosystems
A new
initiative in Solomon Islands aims to help businesses grow
in ways that protect coral ecosystems.
Overfishing,
coastal development, and land-based pollution continue to
threaten reefs.
The ‘reef-positive finance’ pilot is
supported by multiple organisations including the World
Wildlife Fund, the United Nations Capital Development Fund
and the Global Fund for Coral Reefs.
Susan Gardner,
from the Global Fund for Coral Reefs’ executive board, said
this project will help local businesses grow in ways that
protect reefs and strengthen community resilience in the
face of the climate crisis.
New Zealand High
Commissioner to Solomon Islands Jonathan Curr said Solomon
Islanders depend on coral reefs for their livelihoods,
cultures and for
resilience.
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